Alex Rodriguez isn't sparring any expense in battling his 211-game suspension from Bud Selig and Major League Baseball for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

This summer, according to New York Magazine, Rodriguez hired Guidepost Solutions, the same private investigation firm in New York that was also used by Dominique Strauss-Kahn to contest his 2011 rape allegation.

Working with DSK, Guidepost investigators quickly obtained information on his compliant, Nafissatou Diallo, and the prosecution quickly dropped all charges after the evidence was revealed. Strauss-Kahn's lead lawyer Ben Brafman credited Guidepost in playing a large role in his client's exoneration.

After clearing Strauss-Kahn, Bart Schwartz, the head of the firm and former federal prosecutor, told New York Magazine they helped DSK through "old-fashioned detective work." Rodriguez is hoping Guidepost can do the same for him in his battle with the MLB.

Rodriguez's case is quite different, though. That could be a problem for Guidepost and Rodriguez's legal team.

Aside from the known fact that Rodriguez was suspended by the league for the use of PEDs, MLB officials also say A-Rod may have tampered with evidence and tried to interfere with the league's investigation into Biogenesis.

Rodriguez returns to the Bronx for the first time since coming off the disabled list Monday in Chicago. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said Friday he's not sure of the response Rodriguez will receive, but said "New Yorkers are tough. They're a tough group. They're a tough audience.

Girardi was stumped on what to expect Friday night as well.

"I am curious what it's going to be like Friday," manager Joe Girardi told the team's official website. "I'm not sure. And I don't really know what the appropriate response is. I don't think it's my right to tell people how to respond to certain situations."

Rodriguez is hitting fifth and playing third base Friday for the Yankees against the red-hot Detroit Tigers.